Brodie Kostecki claims consecutive Bathurst 1000 poles as Matt Payne tumbles down the grid

Reigning Supercars champion Brodie Kostecki has blitzed the top-10 shootout to secure pole position for the Bathurst 1000.

The Erebus star was the fourth-to-last driver to have a solo attempt during Saturday’s top-10 shootout and he set an unbeatable pace to claim back-to-back pole positions at Mount Panorama.

It is a rare appearance up front for Kostecki, who has battled to get to the top of the grid since returning to the sport in round three after an off-season dispute with Erebus.

His lap time of two minutes and 5.5119 seconds is the fastest of the weekend so far, landing Kostecki his first pole of the year after he claimed the top spot at last year’s Bathurst 1000.

Kostecki, with co-driver Todd Hazelwood, will start Sunday’s 161-lap, 1000km race at 11.30am (AEDT) in the front row with Tickford’s Cam Waters and Lee Holdsworth.

“I wasn’t sure if I was going to get it. It wasn’t the best lap I’ve done around here,” Kostecki said.

“I had really bad tyre vibration, so it was really hard coming into Conrod Straight. I was starting to get double visual from the vibration.

“It’s stellar work from the whole crew and stoked to get this pole for them.”

Two-time Bathurst runner-up Waters admitted disappointment despite securing a front-row spot, having left everything out on the track.

“I was obviously going for pole. I really wanted that but Brodie’s lap was awesome,” Waters said.

“I drove the car a little bit differently. I probably could have pole but that’s okay. We’re in the mix.

“Front row is still pretty cool around here and it’s a long race tomorrow.”

Red Bull star Broc Feeney qualified third and will share the second row with reigning Bathurst winner Richie Stanaway.

Stanaway, who won last year with Shane van Gisbergen, was the first driver out on the track and led by 0.254 seconds before Kostecki had his shot.

He put together a near-perfect lap to outdo his qualifying time despite sliding wide into the dirt after the first turn.

Thursday’s provisional polesitter Matt Payne had to settle for seventh after contact with the wall at the exit of Forrest’s Elbow proved costly.

Andre Heimgartner, who shed a tear after booking a career-first shootout, was left heartbroken after he fumbled his opportunity to grab pole position at the first turn.

The Brad Jones Racing driver locked up at the first turn and went straight into the gravel.

He was able to complete the lap but finished dead last in the shootout, behind by a massive margin of 8.580 seconds.

Heimgartner has the unenviable record of six ‘did not finish’ results from 10 starts at Bathurst 1000.

BATHURST 1000 TOP-10 SHOOTOUT RESULTS

1. Brodie Kostecki (Erebus Motorsport)

2. Cam Waters (Tickford Racing)

3. Broc Feeney (Triple Eight Race Engineering)

4. Richie Stanaway (Grove Racing)

5. Will Brown (Triple Eight Race Engineering)

6. Jack Le Brocq (Erebus Motorsport)

7. Matt Payne (Grove Racing)

8. Anton De Pasquale (Dick Johnson Racing)

9. Chaz Mostert (Walkinshaw Andretti United)

10. Andre Heimgartner (Brad Jones Racing).